Humans evolved to experience work as pleasurable and continued to find it pleasurable for the first 98% of our history, often likening it to play. The negative associations we see now with “work” stem from the extreme inequality and exploitation accompanying the rise of the state 5,500 years ago. Consequently, today many people view work negatively, seeing it as a means to gain income to enable consumption as opposed to serving as a means for creativity, community, and self-fulfillment. In Why We Must Work , Jon D. Wisman draws upon economics, philosophy, evolutionary psychology, social anthropology, and history to explore how work has been experienced and understood over the course of history. In addressing current conditions, he notes the absurdity that, while we live with unparalleled abundance, some workers suffer unemployment and most are not free in their workplaces, often being bossed about. Equally absurd, given our abundance, is the extreme inequality that results in pervasive insecurity, stress, and pessimism. Laissez-faire ideology legitimates the public policies that generate this inequality and these work conditions while depicting ever greater consumption as opposed to meaningful work as the means to greater happiness. Wisman offers an attractive alternative vision of our future, grounded in two reforms to make work again fulfilling: guaranteed employment and workplace democracy. Guaranteed employment would provide security and eliminate poverty while providing everyone with the social and self-respect of being a productive member of society. Measures to bring about worker ownership and control of their firms would bring freedom and democracy to the workplace. Both reforms conform to cherished values while preserving capitalism’s two principal institutions of private property and markets. “At a time when too much mainstream attention revolves around hollow consumerism and individualism, this excellent book reminds us of the central importance of meaningful and collective ownership of work to happy and successful societies. Wisner makes a powerful argument against the past five decades of elite, laissez-faire economic policies that have done so much to increase inequality and human suffering through the degradation of labour. Instead, he articulates a renewed and compelling manifesto for democratising work.” (Andrew Cumbers, Professor of Political Economy, University of Glasgow) “If you’re convinced the US economy already produces happy, fulfilled workers leading dignified lives, don’t waste your time reading this book. Don’t even bother picking it up if you think that the mob that stormed the Capitol consisted of people with meaningful jobs and satisfying careers earning enough to support their families. This is one book that Hayek and Friedman would have hated. What? Government should make sure that everyone has a job? Preposterous! Worker democracy? Absurd! And what exactly are gig workers complaining about, anyway? They are free to choose their own health insurance! Keynes would have loved this book. Let Wisman persuade you that all of this is not only achievable—but urgently necessary.” (John Komlos, Professor Emeritus, University of Munich and author of “Foundations of Real-World Economics”) “This is a smart, engaging book. In it, Wisman argues that the organization of work is too important to leave to the bosses. Too much is at stake for our democracy and our planet. Instead, we deserve an economy in which work provides dignity, fulfilment, security, and social solidarity. Wisman illustrates the ways in which our cooperative instincts have been thwarted and the urgent need to revive it. In these perilous times, this is a book that richly deserves to be read, discussed, and debated.” (Bruce Pietrykowski, Professor Emeritus, University of Michigan-Dearborn and author of “Work”) “ Why do we work? Just to survive, consume, accumulate? Is that it? Drawing on evolutionary biology, the history of civilisations, anthropology, and economics, Jon Wisman illustrates a compelling alternative to work as we know it, posing 'work' as an essential means to enjoyment, self-expression, creativity, teamwork, and community. He brings the argument up to the present, addressing the prevalent malaise in today’s wealthy societies and presenting two work able pathways to better realise these values. This is a boldly-conceived and brilliantly-executed book.” (Robert H. Wade, Professor of Global Political Economy, London School of Economics and Political Science) “This is a book that deserves to be read, discussed, and debated.”— Bruce Pietrykowski , Professor Emeritus, University of Michigan-Dearborn and author of Work “Keynes would have loved this book.”— John Komlos , Professor Emeritus, University of Munich and author of Foundations of Real-World Economics Humans evolved to experience work as pleasurable and continued to find it pleasurable for the first 98% of our history, often likening it to play.